Antique Medieval 14 Century Islamic Zilig Tile With Arabic Calligraphy

The panel consists of three tiles made of red earthenware stone paste ( (also known as Fritware) coated in black manganese glaze. These tiles are intricately carved with an elaborate cartouche that contains an Arabic calligraphy Naskh script on an uneven, chiseled, pale background. The rectangular margin of the panel has inner corners adorned with carved leaves.

It probably originated from one of the palaces of the sultans of the Marinid Dynasty in Fez, Morocco.

Epigraphic friezes executed in ceramic tile were integral to the decorative program of interiors in both Morocco and Spain. This type of calligraphic tile band was placed above and below large tiles with geometric motifs known as charafa (reminiscent of crenelations), which provided a transition between ceramic tile decoration and plaster paneling on the walls.

These tiles were first entirely coated in black glaze, which was carved away, leaving behind the calligraphy on an uneven, chiseled, pale background.

SOURCE: Comparable examples of Marinid tiles from the 14th and early 15th century are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection in New York, one of the world's most important museums.

Please see the links below:

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1999.146/

With similar tiles is decorated famous Madrasa Bou Inania (also Bu Inaniya, المدرسة أبو عنانية بفاس al-madrasa ʾAbū ʿInānīya bi-Fās) in Fes, Morocco, founded in AD 1351–56 by Abu Inan Faris.

CONDITION: The item displays signs of age and use, including chips that are consistent with being over 600 years old.

MEASUREMENTS:

The overall length of the panel: 26.5 cm (10.43 inches)

Width of the panel: 10.2 cm (4.02 inches)

Thickness: 12 mm (0.35 inches)